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What Moms Need To Know For Stay-At-Home Success

AURORA, IL, April 1, 2002 - You think you want to be a stay-at-home mom, but are you prepared? Many moms who work outside of the home dream about bailing out of the 9-to-5 existence and staying home with their children. Can this dream be reality? CelebratingChildren.com's SAHM Penny Powell helps moms answer that question, offering these key questions that help determine whether this dream could actually come true.

1. How strong is your desire to be a stay-at-home mom?
Assess your desire to be a SAHM to determine if this is something you wholeheartedly want to do day in and day out! If you are passionate about becoming a SAHM, you are more likely to be driven to make it happen.

2. Are you able to stay at home with your children without putting a financial strain on your family?
Develop a reasonable monthly budget to see exactly how much of a second income is required, if any, to meet your family's financial needs. Many moms strongly desire to stay-at-home, but financial realities prevent many from doing so -- particularly single mothers. Explore part-time work at home opportunities that you can do while your child is napping, while your child is in preschool, in the evening, or on the weekends.

3. Is the majority of your paycheck spent on childcare and commuting expenses?
Compare your childcare expenses and your commuting expenses to your take home pay. If you are working just to pay childcare and train fare, then staying at home will not place your family in financial jeopardy.

4. Is your partner supportive about your desire to be a stay-at-home mom?
Make sure you have the support for your significant other. Transitioning from wanting to be a stay-at-home mother to actually being one is a far easier process when you have your partner's support. Anticipate your partner's concerns and be prepared to explain how staying home will be beneficial and not burdensome to your family.

5. How can you put your at-home time to best use?
Determine how you will spend your days at home with your children. Some mothers are concerned about being able to effectively provide for all of their children's needs for most of each day. Being a SAHM takes some planning. However, if you have a sincere desire to meet your child's developmental needs, you will find that it is not difficult to make each day with your children enriching.

6. What will you do if it all becomes too challenging for you?
Begin developing a support system of family, friends and other SAHMs. Network with other SAHMs. Take advantage of your support system when you need a break. Plan some "Me Time" when your significant other is home, or by working out arrangements for childcare with family or other SAHMs.

CelebratingChildren.com includes a special section by Penny Powell called "Momma's Home", featuring articles, tips and ideas just for stay-at-home moms. You may reach Penny Powell at momtoaboy@aol.com.

About CelebratingChildren.com. CelebratingChildren.com, the premier African American parenting website, offers articles, books, tips, cards and gifts primarily for African American families with children ages 0-10. CelebratingChildren.com provides articles that explore a wide array of topics including children's literature, education, music and family finance. For more information contact, Stacey Montgomery, phone: 630/978-0198, editor@celebratingchildren.com

Celebratingchildren.com is a trademark owned by Stacey Montgomery. Stacey Montgomery owns the copyrights and trademarks on all artwork, characters within artwork and articles that appear in celebratingchildren.com unless indicated otherwise. All rights reserved.